Warhammer: Dawn of Annihilation

Those capable of speaking participated in the meeting called by Guilliman. 

Chapter Master Calgar, along with company commanders from various chapters, saints, mechanical sages, and other high-ranking officials, gathered in the grand council hall of Hera Fortress, where Guilliman awaited. 

Hera Fortress, with a history spanning over 10,000 years, had borne witness to countless defining moments in history. 

Reflecting on the time of Horus's rebellion, the galaxy had been ravaged by subspace storms that severed communication between star systems, and the Emperor had been trapped on Terra. Many loyal armies were left without leadership, a situation that had placed the future of humanity in jeopardy. 

It was then that the Primarchs of three major legions gathered in the fortress, discussing humanity's fate at a critical turning point. 

Now, after 10,000 years, everything had changed. 

The centuries had taken much, yet they had also ushered in new challenges and opportunities. 

Evidence of past invasions still lingered on Hera Fortress. The Tyranids, greenskin orcs, and the forces of Chaos had all made their mark here, attempting to break through its defenses. 

Hera Fortress was a strategic location within the defenses of Macragge, and because of its significance, it had repeatedly been targeted by the Empire's enemies. 

Only recently, Chaos forces had attempted to obliterate the fortress, sending waves of cultists, Chaos warriors, and daemons to breach its walls. 

When Guilliman awoke, the Chaos invaders had already infiltrated the interior of the fortress, leaving behind a grim landscape of destruction and death. 

Now, the damage had nearly been repaired. The remains of the fallen had been removed, the shattered marble columns and floors replaced, and the damaged streets were restored to their former glory. 

The Thinker computer, once used for tactical projections and data storage, had been updated with new wetware, allowing it to operate smoothly once more. 

As Guilliman surveyed the room filled with the Empire's finest heroes, he realized that, had he not been the Emperor's son-Primarch, assembling such a council would have been impossible. 

Each of these individuals held the power to independently command Imperial fleets. 

One word from them could determine the fate of entire star systems, deciding who would live and who would perish in the name of human survival. 

They were all brave, strategic thinkers with a deep love for humanity and unwavering loyalty to the Empire, willing to sacrifice themselves and others to ensure the survival of both. 

At the center of the council hall stood an oval table. The mechanical hum of the equipment filled the air as everyone took their seats. One by one, tactical projections appeared, suspended above the table, illustrating the current threats facing the Ultima Segmentum. 

The fall of Cadia Fortress and the chaos of the Great Rift had left the region in turmoil. 

Daemons and alien races ravaged human worlds, and the Empire's citizens lived in constant fear, crying out for salvation. 

Mechanical priests and servitors, garbed in worn red robes, busied themselves tending to the Thinker computer and other equipment in the hall. 

The Thinker computer, a complex system that relied on human brains as its core, was a testament to the Empire's wariness of artificial intelligence. 

During the golden age of mankind, intelligent AI had betrayed humanity, leading to the Empire's strict ban on robots and computers without human flesh and blood. Violating this edict was considered a grave offense, punishable by death at the hands of the Imperial military. 

The brains used for the Thinker computers were harvested from clones of Imperial Sinners or members of the Adeptus Mechanicus. These brains were specially programmed, placed in hardened glass tanks, and connected to vast networks of data cables, forming the essence of the Thinker system. 

Once all were seated, Guilliman made his way to his place at the table. 

The eyes of every person in the room followed his every move, filled with a mixture of reverence, fanaticism, and excitement. 

For these loyal leaders, standing alongside the Emperor's son was an honor they would cherish for the rest of their lives. 

Guilliman felt the weight of their gazes, the unspoken pressure of their expectations. 

They awaited him to lead the Empire to salvation, a daunting task that involved not just politics and strategy but also the very survival of humanity itself. Confronting the gods was a task that could end in disaster, and failure would mean certain death for all. 

"The current state of the Empire is grim. Beyond the invasions by Chaos, alien threats such as the Tyranids and Necrons have become formidable enemies. I invite you all to speak freely—don't hold back due to your rank or status," Guilliman said, his voice steady and clear, though not loud. 

His words resonated throughout the hall, ensuring everyone could hear his message. 

"Prince Regent, you must make your way to Terra—the center of the Empire, home to the greatest concentration of human elites. There, you will find the strength and resources necessary to rebuild the Empire," suggested High Marshal Amalric, Chapter Master of the Black Templars. 

His argument was sound: Terra, as the Empire's capital, was the heart of power, wealth, and influence, where all the elite of the Empire would gather. 

As the Emperor's son and the inheritor of his genetic legacy, Guilliman had a legitimate claim to return to Terra and assume the position of Regent. 

Guilliman, however, replied, "Now is not the right time to return to Terra. We cannot hope to save the Empire all at once. We need a stable rear and preparations. The state of Terra after the Great Rift is unknown, and rushing back could put us at a disadvantage. The five hundred worlds of Ultramar are still intact and offer the best chance for us to gather resources and warships to fight back." 

Return to Terra? Guilliman couldn't shake the doubt gnawing at him. If he were to reveal the secret of his time-traveling soul to the Emperor or the Chaos Gods, it could spell disaster. 

Before revealing his true identity, Guilliman planned to secure Ultramar, strengthen his position, and ensure his own protection. 

Moreover, Terra and the entire Sol System were controlled by the High Lords of Terra, the Inquisition, the Ecclesiarchy, and the Mechanicus. 

While there were many loyal individuals within these factions, power-hungry leaders would never relinquish their authority easily. 

Horus had fallen prey to such ambition when the Emperor excluded the Primarchs and Space Marines from the Terra Council, which led to the Horus Heresy. 

Power was a dangerous temptation. 

Guilliman knew that restoring control over Terra would be fraught with political intrigue and resistance. Any misstep could trigger rebellion. 

For now, he believed it wiser to focus on consolidating his position and building his forces rather than engaging in political maneuvering. 

His proposal to focus on Ultramar, the collective name for the five hundred worlds under his command, met with little opposition. 

Ultramar, in contrast to the rest of the Empire, was a prosperous region, with industries, medical care, and food supplies far beyond what was seen in other parts of the galaxy. 

Restoring the security and productivity of Ultramar was critical to ensuring humanity's survival and rebuilding the Empire. 

Guilliman laid out his plans for the war, detailing how he would stabilize Ultramar and defend it against external threats. 

The council soon turned its focus to securing Ultramar, and after lengthy discussions, they agreed to launch a full-scale counteroffensive from Macragge. 

Guilliman named the operation the Unyielding War, a bold statement of humanity's refusal to succumb to the chaotic gods' dark vision. 

With the meeting adjourned, Guilliman remained behind with the mechanical sage, Kauler, to discuss matters of great importance. 

These discussions would be pivotal for the future of the Empire and the survival of mankind.

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